Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 56 Purple Mist Fairy is my beloved indeed.

After observing for a long time, Zhao Sheng suddenly snapped the talismanic scripture shut, sighed deeply with a complex expression, and said, "Ah, why is the Second-level Talisman so difficult?"

Since leaving Heavenly Pillar Mountain, Zhao Sheng had been researching how to draw the Illusion Shadow Escape Talisman, and it had already been three years.

It could be said that he considered himself extremely familiar with the Illusion Shadow Escape Talisman. Whether it was connecting the eighty-one spiritual acupoints or mastering the beginning and ending strokes of the talisman, he had entirely grasped it.

Even his weakest aspect, spiritual power, with the help of the Bursting Spirit Pill, was sufficient to support him in completing the Illusion Shadow Escape Talisman.

However, in the past three years, he had tried to draw it at least a hundred times and failed every single time.

Previously, he had no idea what the problem was until a recent talisman cultivator gathering unintentionally enlightened him.

"The air connects to heavenly truth, uniquely possessing its divine essence, hence it becomes a talisman."

Zhao Sheng held the rolled-up talismanic scripture in his hand and tapped his forehead with it, murmuring to himself in frustration.

Over the past years, relying on his talent, he had been successful in talisman painting without fail, to the extent that he gradually emphasized "technique" and almost forgot that the key to talisman painting lay in the "Divine Intent."

Although he had come to this realization, he still found himself completely at a loss with the Second Order Illusion Shadow Escape Talisman.

Because his spiritual power was not sufficient to "construct" the Divine Intent of a Second-level Talisman.

The reason why a True Talisman of the Second Order is named so is not just because its power is many times greater than that of a First-Order Talisman.

In fact, it implies that only those above the Foundation Establishment Cultivation are capable of drawing such talismans.

Shortly after, Zhao Sheng put away the Jade Void Talisman Scripture and walked out of the quiet room.

Upon leaving the quiet room, Zhao Sheng suddenly saw a talismanic crane continuously circling over the courtyard.

His eyes lit up, and he extended his hand to emit a stream of spiritual power, drawing the talismanic crane down to him.

Once the talismanic crane sensed the imprint of spiritual power, it immediately flew down to Zhao Sheng's hand.

Zhao Sheng opened the talismanic crane, and saw written on it: "Tomorrow at late afternoon, you are respectfully invited, Taoist Zhao, to a small gathering in the art of talismans, located at the Cave Heaven Inner City Treasure Talisman Pavilion, Jingcheng Courtyard."

At the bottom of the text was an abstract Tai Chi talismanic pattern.

Seeing this Tai Chi pattern, Zhao Sheng couldn't help laughing and said, "Speak of the devil. I wonder if Old Man Xie will go tomorrow?"

As he said this, he left a bit of spiritual power imprint on the talisman paper and then refolded the paper crane.

After infusing it with a stream of spiritual power, he gently sent it off, and the paper crane immediately took flight, quickly flying over the wall and returning to a certain location.

…

The following day at late afternoon, in the Cave Heaven City Treasure Talisman Pavilion,

Dressed in a talisman robe, Zhao Sheng slowly approached the entrance of an exquisite courtyard.

At that moment, seeing Zhao Sheng arrive, the young attendant guarding the door immediately came forward with a smile plastered all over his face and flatteringly said, "Senior Zhao, it's been a while since you visited. My grandfather has been talking about you a lot recently. He would be thrilled to see you today."

"How has Elder Wei been feeling lately?" Zhao Sheng casually asked, handing over a Water Healing Talisman to the attendant.

"Grandpa's in great health, he's even taken a new concubine recently," the young attendant replied smoothly, barely able to contain his grin after receiving the talisman.

Hearing this, Zhao Sheng gave him a glance and said in a flat tone, "If you weren't so incompetent, Elder Wei wouldn't need to be trying so hard. I remember he's ninety-one this year?"

The young attendant's face froze at his words, and he was at a loss for words.

It was strange to note that there were over a hundred members in the Wei family, yet none had a Spirit Root.

As is known in the Cultivation World, for a cultivation family that cannot produce descendants with Spirit Roots, no matter how prosperous and flourishing they are currently, it all indicates the end of their lineage.

Approaching the gate, Zhao Sheng waved his hand and said, "That's all right, you stay here to welcome the next visitor. After all, this isn't my first time here."

Having finished speaking, Zhao Sheng didn't even glance at the other party before turning around and entering the small courtyard.

The talisman cultivator gathering was still held at the old place.

As Zhao Sheng walked through the door, familiar with the route, he was immediately greeted enthusiastically by many people.

"Taoist Zhao, you've arrived. How many Invisibility Talismans did you bring this time? I want to buy a few for self-protection."

"Ah, Brother Zhao, it's been a while. You look even more spirited than before. It seems your cultivation has improved again. By the way, the Water Vortex Shield Talisman from last time was excellent. I'd like to order a batch more this time."

"Brother Zhao, I have a top-notch talisman pen here. Just two hundred spirit stones, and a bottle of spiritual ink comes with it for free."

"Taoist Zhao, do you need a wife or not?"

Zhao Sheng skillfully dealt with his fellow Daoists while repeatedly and gently declining someone's offer of a wife.

After sending this group away, Zhao Sheng looked around the hall and saw a crowd gathered around a corner. In the middle, an old man with a youthful face and white hair was speaking animatedly to the surrounding people.

Seeing this scene, a smile appeared on Zhao Sheng's face, and he walked to the perimeter of the crowd to listen quietly.

"It's not boasting if I tell you, the Purple Mist Fairy is unmatched in beauty and grace, and has a figure and looks like no other. But the most crucial part, do you know what it is?"

"What is it?" The crowd, well aware of Old Man Xie's temperament, enthusiastically asked.

Old Man Xie glanced around and, puffing up with pride, said, "She is a natural born White Tiger. Understand?"

"Oh, I heard White Tigers are unlucky! This time the price must be cheaper."

"Right! What if we are cursed? That would be terrible for us."

"Brother Zhu, well said! One hundred spirit stones is indeed expensive. How about fifty spirit stones?"

Seeing the crowd unanimously trying to drive the price down, Old Man Xie, "fuming with anger," shouted angrily, "Buy it or leave it. If you think you can get an advantage over me, there's no way. That would only happen over my dead body."

Just then, a voice came from the outskirts of the crowd: "Senior Xie, I'll buy that Purple Mist Fairy."

Upon hearing this, Old Man Xie's anger turned to joy. He turned his head and looked towards Zhao Sheng, who was walking in from outside the crowd.

He couldn't help but bow slightly and said, "I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be you, young man. Listen clearly, this spring palace talisman isn't easy to create; it must cost one hundred spirit stones."

Zhao Sheng said seriously, "One hundred spirit stones, neither more nor less. And it's not just the Purple Mist Fairy; I want all the other ones you've created in the past like the Jing Hong Fairy, the Dragon Girl, the Nine-tailed Fox Lady, and so on."

Hearing this, Old Man Xie burst into joy and grabbed Zhao Sheng's arm, leading him outside while mumbling, "It's you, the young man who knows the goods. These are all my beloved creations!"

In a corner of the hall, Old Man Xie let go and asked seriously, "Are you really buying? All nine of them?"

Zhao Sheng nodded and said, "Junior will take them all, but..."

"No buts. Just say what you want," Old Man Xie interrupted him directly.

As the saying goes, the older the ginger, the spicier it gets.

Having lived for so many years, he could tell that Zhao Sheng's true intention wasn't just the talismans.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng candidly said, "I want to learn how to refine an illusion talisman?"

"Like the character illusion talismans used in the spring palace talismans." Zhao Sheng emphasized at the end.

"No way!" Old Man Xie flatly refused: "The Purple Mist Fairy and others are my beloved creations."

Just as Zhao Sheng thought he had failed, Old Man Xie took a deep breath and then added a few more words: "...unless you pay more!"

"..."